Cartridge loading golf tee dispenser

ABSTRACT

A cartridge loading golf tee dispenser in which a row of golf tees are preferably arranged in alternate side-by-side relation within a cartridge. The golf tees may be manually dispensed from the cartridge, or the cartridge loaded in a dispenser which is provided with a manually actuatable dispensing device adapted when actuated to engage and force the leading golf tee past a retaining member and out of the dispenser.

United States Patent [191' Zeller I V [451 Apr. 2, 1974 CARTRIDGE LOADING GOLF TEE DISPENSER [76] Inventor: Henry 0. Zeller, 2083 Five Mile Line Rd., Penfield, N.Y. 14526 [22] Filed: May 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 251,192

[52} US. CL... 221/198, 206/46 GT, 221/267, 221/309 [51] Int. Cl B65h 3/56 [58] Field of Search 206/46 GT; 221/197, 198, 221/267, 276, 306, 307, 310, 309

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,291,245 1/1919 Swift .fi. 221/307 X 1,739,780 12/1929 Buhrke 1. 206/46 GT 1,903,067 3/1933 Richardson et al..... 221/198 X 2,141,684 12/1938 Diemer 221/276 X 2,503,741 4/1950 Johnson 221/309 X 2,593,668 4/1952 Gora 221/267 X 2,715,456 8/1955 Watling... 221/198 X 3,206,067 9/1965 Smith 221/309 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 616,926 2/1961 Italy 221/267 Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. Kocovsky [57] ABSTRACT A cartridge loading golf tee dispenser in which a row of golf tees are preferably arranged in alternate sideby-side relation within a cartridge. The golf tees may be manually dispensed from the cartridge, or the cartridge loaded in a dispenser which is provided with a manually actuatable dispensing device adapted when actuated to engage and force the leading golf tee past a retaining member and out of the dispenser.

1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures 1 CARTRIDGE LOADING GOLF TEE DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to dispensers, and more specifically to a golf tee dispenser.

2. Description of the Prior Art Golf tee dispensers are known in the art in which the dispenser comprises a tubular body member within which golf tees are arranged in piggy-back fashion. The body member is provided with a resilient retaining means adjacent the open mouth of the body member for retaining the golf tees within the body member with the stem of the leading golf tee extending from the mouth. The golf tees are dispensed by manually gripping the stem of the lowermost golf tee and pulling it past the resilient retaining means. One of the diadvantages of such a golf tee dispenser is that it is primarily suitable for use only with golf tees that are hollow to permit nesting the golf tees in piggy-back fashion. Such a dispenser is unsatisfactory for the normal solid, generally conical golf tee, since the tubular body member has to be unduly long in order to handle a sufficient number of golf tees. Other golf tee holders are known comprising belts having a plurality of pockets arranged along the belt in spaced-apart relation and provided with retaining means for holding golf tees inserted therein. It is further known to provide circular golf tee preferably holders provided with a plurality of radially extending openings for receiving the stems of the golf tees. The golf tees are releasably retained within the openings by a retaining means, such as a rubber band. One of the disadvantages of the aforementioned golf tee holders is that the tees are relatively exposed, and hence are unprotected from wear, damage, and loss by falling out of the pockets. The cartridge load golf tee dispenser of this invention is believed to obviate these other disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a cartridge load golf tee dispenser is disclosed comprising a cartridge within which a row of golf tees is preferably arranged in alternate side-by-side relation. The cartridge has an open mouth at one end through which the golf tees are dispensed, and retaining means adjacent the open mouth for releasably retaining the golf tees in the cartridge. The cartridge mouth is further provided with one or more notches to permit access to the leading golf tee for dispensing it from the cartridge. The golf tees may be dispensed from the cartridge by hand removal, or the cartridge loaded into a golf tee dispenser. The golf tee dispenser comprises a housing for receiving the cartridge which is inserted therein to a loaded position. A manually actuatable dispensing device on the housing is adapted when operated to engage and dispense the leading golf tee past the retaining means and through the open mouths of the cartridge and housing.

Itis accordingly one of the objects of the present invention' to provide a cartridge load golf tee dispenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved golf tee dispenser in which the golf tees are completely enclosed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cartridge load, golf tee dispenser that is of simple design and construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, and ecomonical to manufacture.

The invention and its objects and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments presented below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a golf tee cartridge with a portion thereof broken away for use in a cartridge load, golf tee dispenser of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with the cartridge loaded;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating spring means for urging the golf tees toward the mouth of the cartridge;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view with a portion broken away and sectioned of a golf tee dispenser in which the cartridge is loaded;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the golf tee dispenser of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the golf tee dispenser of FIG. 5 looking at it from line 7--7; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged segmental view, in section, taken substantially along line 88 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIGS. 1 through 4, a preferred embodiment of a golf tee cartridge 10 is illustrated for holding a row of golf tees 12 preferably arranged in alternate side-by-side relation, as best seen in FIG. 2. The cartridge 10 may serve as a dispenser from which the golf tees 12 may be manually removed one at a time, or may be loaded into a dispenser to be described hereinafter, which when manually manipulated dispenses the golf tees one at a time. The cartridge 10 comprises a substantially rectangular member formed from any suitable material, such as plastic or the like. In order to accommodate the alternately arranged golf tees 12, the cartridge is provided with a cavity 14 therethrough, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, having enlarged portions along each side for receiving the heads of the golf tee, and an intermediate portion of a smaller size for accommodating and guiding the stems of the golf tees. Preferably, the cartridge 10 and cavity 14 have a biconcave cross section (FIG. 3) to guide a substantial length of each of the golf tees, and hence prevent skewing and possible jamming of the tees. The cartridge 10 is provided adjacent its open mouth 16 at the outlet end of the cartridge with golf tee retaining means in the form of a pair of spring fingers l8 integrally formed from a wall of the cartridge, and having lugs 20 at their ends extending into the path of the golf tees 12, as best illustrated in FIG. 8. Although spring fingers 18 are illustrated, other forms of golf tee retaining means may be provided. For example, the cartridge may be formed from a flexible, plastic material, and the retaining means may comprise small projections or lugs 22 molded'in one of the walls of the cartridge adjacent the mouths as illustrated in FIG. 4. The walls at the mouth end 16 of the cartridge are further provided with at ger within notch 24 and gripping the stem of the leading tee l2, and pulling or forcing the tee past retaining fingers 18. In one form of cartridge, the golf tees 12 are fed by gravity toward the outlet end 16 of the cartridge,

and hence the cartridge must be held in a vertical position before dispensing. To assist the gravitational force, a suitably shaped, weighted follower 26 (FIG. 2) of any suitable material, such as plastic, and of a biconcave cross section may be interposed between the last golf tee and the closed end of the cartridge. In the cartridge illustrated in FIG. 4, a positive means is provided for urging the golf tees toward the open mouth so that tees may be dispensed with the cartridge positioned in any possible orientation. Such positive means may comprise resilient means of any suitable type, such as a'flat spring 28 or soft rubber block, not shown, interposed between the last golf tee 12 and the closed end 30 of cartridge 10. The cartridge may further be provided with serrations 32 on the sides thereof to provide a finger grip, and elongated guide ribs 34 along each side for guiding the cartridge into a golf tee dispenser, now to be described.

With reference to FIGS. through 8 of the drawing, a preferred embodiment of a golf tee dispenser 36 loaded with the above-described cartridge is illustrated. The golf tee dispenser 36 comprises a substantially rectangular housing constructed of any suitable material, and having a cavity 38 into which a golf tee cartridge may be loaded. The dispenser housing 36 has an inlet opening at one end through which cartridge 10 is inserted into the cavity, andguided to a loaded position by elongated slots 40 in the side walls of the housing slidably receiving cartridge ribs 34. The ends of slots 40 form shoulders 42 for engaging the ends of ribs 34 for precisely locating the cartridge in its loading position. The dispenser 36 is provided with a hinged door 44 at the inletopening for closing off the inlet opening and retaining the cartridge 10 in its loaded position. Although a hinged door 44 is illustrated, preferably with a living hinge 45, it is conceivable that the door could be omitted and any suitable detent interposed between the housing and cartridge for releasably holding the cartridge in its loaded position. Any suitable notches, not shown, may be provided in the walls of the housing defining the inlet opening to provide access to the cartridge for removal. The opposite end of the housing is provided with an open outlet mouth 46 of biconcave cross section, as best seen in FIG. 7 through which golf tees are dispensed. The dispenser housing 36 is further provided with a golf tee dispensing mechanism, as illustrated in FIG. 8, comprising a push-button 48 mounted for reciprocal movement within an opening extending through the upper wall of the housing. A spherical spring 50 encircles push-button 48 and is interposed between the head 52 of button 48 and an inner periph-- eral rim 54 of the wall forming the opening for urging the push-button to a normal retracted position. In such position, a peripheral rim 56 on button 48 engages the inner surface of the walls, and button head 52 extends from a recess 57 in the outer wall surface of the housing in position for manual engagement. The opposite end of button 48 is provided with cam means in the form of an inclined cam surface 58, which is adapted when depressed to a dispensing position to engage the stem of the leading golf tee l2 and toforce it past the retaining spring lugs 20 and out of the open mouths of the cartridge and dispenser.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove.

I claim:

1. In a cartridge loading golf tee dispenser, the combination comprising:

a golf tee cartridge having four continuous side walls defininga first cavity of bi-concave crosssection for receiving a row of substantially conicallyshaped golf tees preferably arranged in alternate side-by-side relation, said cartridge having a first open mouth at one end of said cartridge side walls through which the golf tees are dispensed, and a notch at the end of one of said cartridge side walls adjacent said mouth to provide access to a portion of a leading golf tee;

retaining means on another wall of said cartridge opposite said one cartridge wall and adjacent said first open mouth, said retaining means comprising. a spring finger having a lug normally extending in the path of the golf tees for releasably retaining the golf tees in said cartridge;

a generally rectangular housing having four continuous side walls defining a second cavity for slidably receiving said golf tee cartridge;

said housing having a releasably closed end wall at one end and a second open mouth at the opposite end adjacent said first mouth and arranged generally parallel to the golf tees and through which the golf tees are dispensed; and

dispensing means comprising a button mounted on one of said housing side walls for reciprocal slideable movement transversely of said housing side wall between retracted and dispensing positions, said button having a head at one end extending from the outer surface of said one of said housing side walls in position to be manually depressed, and cam means on the opposite end of said button adapted when said button is moved to said dispensing position to pass through said notch for engaging and dispensing said leading golf tee past said retaining lug and out through said first and second open mouths. 

1. In a cartridge loading golf tee dispenser, the combination comprising: a golf tee cartridge having four continuous side walls defining a first cavity of bi-concave cross section for receiving a row of substantially conically-shaped golf tees preferably arranged in alternate side-by-side relation, said cartridge having a first open mouth at one end of said cartridge side walls through which the golf tees are dispensed, and a notch at the end of one of said cartridge side walls adjacent said mouth to provide access to a portion of a leading golf tee; retaining means on another wall of said cartridge opposite said one cartridge wall and adjacent said first open mouth, said retaining means comprising a spring finger having a lug normally extending in the path of the golf tees for releasably retaining the golf tees in said cartridge; a generally rectangular housing having four continuous side walls defining a second cavity for slidably receiving said golf tee cartridge; said housing having a releasably closed end wall at one end and a second open mouth at the opposite end adjacent said first mouth and arranged generally parallel to the golf tees and through which the golf tees are dispensed; and dispensing means comprising a button mounted on one of said housing side walls for reciprocal slideable movement transversely of said housing side wall between retracted and dispensing positions, said button having a head at one end extending from the outer surface of said one of said housing side walls in position to be manually depressed, and cam means on the opposite end of said button adapted when said button is moved to said dispensing position to pass through said notch for engaging and dispensing said leading golf tee past said retaining lug and out through said first and second open mouths. 